Author: God's Morning

That “Rabbit rabbit” is a common British superstition, also practiced by people here. The most common modern version states that a person should say “rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit”, “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit”, “rabbits, rabbits, rabbits”, “rabbit, rabbit” or simply “white rabbits” upon waking on the first day of each new month, and on doing so will receive good luck for the duration of that month. In the United States, the tradition is especially common in Nantucket, Cape Cod other towns within Massachusetts and throughout Vermont, notably in Middlebury and Chester.

Did you say Rabbit, Rabbit this morning?  If not, you missed your opportunity for December; however, the next Rabbit, Rabbit day will be New Year’s Day, and if you say Rabbit, Rabbit on the first day of the new year, you get the good luck for the whole year.  So set yourself a reminder for Rabbit, Rabbit Day, Sunday, January 1, 2012 and go for the year of good luck. 

E.J. Lefavour

Update: Stop by the Rocky Neck Art Colony’s winter show on Ladies Night (tomorrow, Thursday, December 1), enjoy some wine and chocolate and enter your name to win a free gift.

Put your name and contact info into our hat between 6 and 8pm and you may win one these great gifts:

A handmade mug by potter Marty Morgan

A set of Lilliputian Landscape greeting cards by Judy Robinson-Cox

Set of Gloucester Docks photo cards by Michael Oleksiw

Three hand-painted greeting cards, suitable for framing by painter Elynn Kröger (pick-up at her gallery on Rocky Neck)

A Cape Ann calendar by Vicki Diez-Canseco

A 2012 Dogtown and Babson Boulders complete collection calendar by EJ

Holiday ornament by Judith Bly

One winner will be drawn every twenty minutes.

E.J. Lefavour

Aren’t we just being given the most gorgeous weather to be thankful for.

E.J. Lefavour

That the Rocky Neck Art Colony voted to undertake preliminary efforts toward purchasing the former Christian Science Church property on Rocky Neck?  At this time there is a fundraising effort underway to enable the RNAC to conduct a Feasibility Study for the Center, and to pay $1000/month beginning on 1/1/12 for the use of the property and toward the option to purchase the property by 1/1/13, or a mutually agreeable extension of time. 

A draft mission for the center has been developed as follows:
Owned and operated by the RNAC, a 501©(3) non-profit arts organization, the Center (actual name to be determined) will serve as a central gathering and activities space for the artists, residents, and merchants of the East Gloucester area.

The Center will be governed and managed in collaboration with members of the broader community of East Gloucester.

RNAC member, Mary Rhinelander, has generously created and donated 250 signed and numbered linoleum cut and letterpress cards depicting the building, with a brief history on the back.  Originally built in 1877 and then known as the Giles Chapel, it was built as a gathering place for the community and named for founding member, Lydia Giles Wonson.  This lovely card is available at the RNAC Winter Show, 130 Main Street, and can be yours for a donation of $5 toward this fundraising effort.

E.J. Lefavour

Last heard from, she was in in Chiang Mai, Thailand, sitting in a comfy chair in a simple room listening to a gekko.  But did you know that Brenda Malloy of Rocky Neck’s Imagine Gallery was once a commercial helicopter pilot?  Some gals have all the fun.  This is a shot of her on Madfish Wharf this summer.  Hope you’re having a great adventure Brenda.  Rocky Neck isn’t the same without you. 

E.J. Lefavour

If you haven’t yet gotten your Thanksgiving bird and prefer the organic, free range variety, there is a flock of about 20 nice healthy looking hens hanging around the Riverdale Post Office/Willow Rest area.  Here are three of them – nice looking and friendly.  You could probably coax them into your car with a little cracked corn.

BTW, did you know that Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be our national bird instead of the eagle.  I wonder how differently our nation would have evolved if he had gotten his way.  This was Ben’s take on the eagle vs. the turkey (written in a letter to his daughter Sarah):

For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country…

I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving – including these majestic birds that I’m sure will still be roaming Riverdale long after Thanksgiving is over.

E.J. Lefavour

This holiday season there are so many reasons not to go to the mall.  With all the wonderful, unique shops we have on Main Street, and all the unique locally made creations available to Cape Ann residents and lovers, there is no reason to go across the bridge (unless you’re in Essex or Manchester in which case you have to cross the bridge to get here).  Some great, affordable holiday gift ideas include: Joey C.’s This is Gloucester DVD for $20 (which you can order through the blog here https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/order-a-gmg-dvd/); my new complete collection 2012 Dogtown and Babson Boulders calendar ($15), Gloucester’s Finest Kind Calendar (now $15 for the holidays) and Did You Know? Book (now $10 for the holidays), which you can order through my website at www.khanstudiointernational.com or buy at Dogtown Book Shop; a great, unique collection of creative gifts by local artisans at Presents; an incredible collection of beautiful original art, photography, jewelry, pottery, ornaments, cards, calendars and more at the Rocky Neck Art Colony Winter Show at 130 Main Street; beautiful contemporary handmade glass beads and jewelry by Beth Williams, 17 Pleasant Street; wonderful vintage photos and artwork at Fred Bodin Historic Photo; Toodeloos for the kids; Island Art & Hobby for your artsy and crafty family and friends, and so much more, including a plethora of great holiday fairs.  Save gas and yourself from the stress of crazy holiday shopping mobs and traffic at the mall, support local Gloucester businesses and artists, enjoy the holidays and shop locally.

E.J. Lefavour

The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s Winter Show is wonderful and something you do not want to miss.  Here are a few shots of the show.  It will be going on through December 29th, with a meet the artists reception on December 3 from 5:00 to 8:00.  Stop in any time and see the great things coming out of Rocky Neck.  Open Daily at 130 Main Street, Gloucester.

E.J. Lefavour

On September 18, 1892, long after Dogtown had ceased to exist as a community, James Merry died in Dogtown.  He had a 3-year-old bull that he had previously successfully wrestled to the ground on a few occasions.  He decided to try it again.  This time the bull was having no part of it.  The first marker shows where James Merry was first attacked by his bull.  The second marker, a short distance away heading toward Dogtown Road, is where James Merry died of his injuries. 

E.J. Lefavour

The Rocky Neck Art Colony Winter Show opens at 130 Main Street (between Main Street Arts & Antiques and Dogtown Book Shop) in downtown Gloucester on Friday, November 18 at 10:00 and will be open daily through December 29^th (Monday through Saturday, 10:00-6:00 and Sundays noon to 5:00), with a meet the artists Reception on Saturday, December 3 from 5:00-8:00pm. 

There was a great turnout for the show (50 artists) and the space is chock full of some really amazing paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, original bin pieces, cards and more.  I’ll be working the gallery on Sunday (11/20) from noon to 5:00, so although there won’t be a Mug Up, please come by, see the show and say hi.

E.J. Lefavour

If you’re out and about on Saturday, stop by Rockport High School for the Rockport PTO Holiday Fair, and look for me there. 

E.J. Lefavour

That the train heading to Rockport goes really fast as it passes through Dogtown?  My sister and I were on another Babson boulder hunting excursion on Saturday.  We were walking down the tracks heading for the reservoir from Blackburn when we heard the train whistle.  There is no where to go to get out of the way there, as you have water on both sides of the track, so we ran, and reached the path just in time to get some cool train passing shots.  The engineer blew a greeting whistle to us as he raced by.

Coming soon, the 2012 Dogtown and Babson Boulder calendar with all 26 boulders in it, as well as cellar holes, where James Merry died after being gored by his bull and other cool Dogtown images.  Watch for it here.

E.J. Lefavour

That in addition to his quirky mission to leave behind inspirational message carved on boulders strewn throughout Dogtown, Roger Ward Babson was also fascinated by the history of the people who inhabited the Commons Settlement and marked the cellar holes of the long ago inhabitants of this community.  This is cellar hole number 22.  As you can see, the homes were pretty small back in the 1600’s.

E.J. Lefavour

On Saturday, December 3rd from 9:00-1:00 you have at least 2 choices of Christmas Fairs to attend:  The Annisquam Sewing Circle Christmas Fair and the Pigeon Cove Circle Christmas on the Cove Fair.  Both are being put on by long established Cape Ann women’s groups, both run from 9:00-1:00 and both are serving lunch.  I will be exhibiting at Pigeon Cove; but if I weren’t, I’d go to Annisquam.  I can’t do both, but you can.  Problem solved.

E.J. Lefavour

There was some great reflection stuff going on in Lobster Cove after sunset last night.

E.J. Lefavour

That the Garter (also known as Garden) snake is the most common of all snakes and was designated as the official reptile of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2007.   The garter snake got its name from the garters that men used to wear to hold up their socks, and the fact that it has a garterlike pattern running the length of its body.  Garter snakes are harmless, and even if you corner one and he bites you, he can’t do you any harm.  This one startled me when I almost stepped on him while on a walk this morning. 

E.J. Lefavour

That Vaseline Glass, a/k/a Uranium Glass is glass which has had uranium, usually in oxide diuranate form, added to a glass mix prior to melting?  The proportion usually varies from trace levels to about 2% by weight uranium, although some 19th-century pieces were made with up to 25% uranium.

Uranium glass was once made into tableware and household items, but fell out of widespread use when the availability of uranium to most industries was sharply curtailed during the Cold War. Most such objects are now considered antiques or retro-era collectibles, although there has been a minor revival in art glassware. Otherwise, modern uranium glass is now mainly limited to small objects like beads or marbles as scientific or decorative novelties.

The normal color of uranium glass ranges from yellow to green depending on the oxidation state and concentration of the metal ions, although this may be altered by the addition of other elements as glass colorants. Uranium glass also fluoresces bright green under ultraviolet light and can register above background radiation on a sufficiently sensitive geiger counter, although most pieces of uranium glass are considered to be harmless and only negligibly radioactive.

The most typical color of uranium glass is pale yellowish-green, which in the 1920s led to the nickname vaseline glass based on a perceived resemblance to the appearance of petroleum jelly as formulated and commercially sold at that time. Specialized collectors still define vaseline glass as transparent or semitransparent uranium glass in this specific color.

Vaseline glass is now frequently used as a synonym for any uranium glass, especially in the United States, but this usage is not universal. The term is sometimes carelessly applied to other types of glass based on certain aspects of their superficial appearance in normal light, regardless of actual uranium content which requires a blacklight test to verify the characteristic green fluorescence. (Wikipedia)

R. Duck has a nice collection of vaseline glass, and of course Paul has a geiger counter and an ultraviolet light to register the uranium content of each piece. 

E.J. Lefavour

It was a great Mug Up this morning at R. Duck’s house in Rockport.  Food was plentiful as you can see from the photos, and R and Paul were in great form.  Check out the amazing smoked fish platter Fred Bodin brought, and there was a delicious apple cobbler that Greg Bover made, a bunch of other goodies that I don’t know who made or brought, and of course my now famous deviled eggs.  Most of the crew was there, although we missed regulars, Joey and Paul Frontiero, and it was great to see everyone.  Marty Luster, Kim Smith, Donna Ardizzoni and Shew were also shooting, so I’ll limit my shots to the food and let them show the rest.  Thanks Paul and Sue for hosting such an enjoyable Mug Up in your lovely home.

While there, Donna said she wanted my deviled egg recipe.  Since I don’t measure anything or use the same ingredients every time, a recipe is difficult, but here’s what I more or less do:

Hardboil a dozen eggs.  Peel, cut in half and remove the yolks to a bowl and mash.  To your bowl of mashed egg yolks, add about 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise (your preference, I use Market Basket brand), a tablespoon or so of spicey brown mustard and a couple tablespoons of horseradish sauce (sometimes I substitute creamy ceasar dressing), fresh ground pepper, dill, a dash of salt and 3 dollops of Louisiana hot sauce.  Mix up well, taste and adjust for your preference of devilishness.  Fill eggs.  I like to have a portion of finely chopped cooked bacon or Canadian bacon on hand for people to sprinkle on top if they like.

Deviled eggs are a great Thanksgiving appetizer, so whether you try my recipe or use your own, make deviled eggs for Thanksgiving and make people happy – everyone loves them (unless they are egg intolerant or vegan or just don’t like eggs).

E.J. Lefavour

That the Pigeon Cove Circle, a Gloucester female benevolent society incorporated in 1840, is the oldest continuous women’s organization on Cape Ann, and that their annual Christmas in the Cove Fair has been going on for over 140 years?  The group had previously operated out of the Pigeon Cove Chapel, which they had built and were the primary financial supporters of until their expulsion by the Church in 1967 “in order that we may be obedient to the scriptural teachings on the purpose of the church.”   The Circle had always given the money they earned to projects that interested them, including, but not exclusively, the church.  Their gifts, often given anonymously, include fuel assistance, food and clothing for the needy as well as a scholarship fund.  The church executive board desired that all the money the Circle earned be turned over to them to use in whatever way they saw fit to spend it. 

In 1984, after many years without a permanent home, the Pigeon Cove Circle built their Center at 6 Breakwater Ave.  The land was purchased from Rockport after it had been taken for taxes, with a mortgage given by Edith Dean (Circle member and president of the Cape Ann Tool Company).  It is a nice, well lit community space on the corner of Breakwater Ave. and Green Street at Pigeon Cove Harbor with a full kitchen, two bathrooms and a large function room, as well as a parking lot.  The space is available to rent for functions.

Their Christmas in the Cove Fair will be held this year on Saturday, December 3^rd from 9:00am – 1:00pm, with lunch at 11:30.  Also, if you are an artist or crafter with things to sell for the holidays, there are still tables available.  I’ll be there, so come by for the Fair or join me as an exhibitor.  Contact Linda Wright at 978-546-6698, if you’d like to rent a table ($40).

E.J. Lefavour